THE helicopter company, which filmed the The Dark
Knight Rises in Scotland, has told its pilots to drop their speed after a chopper was damaged in the Cairngorms National Park.

A HELICOPTER operator which provides aerial filming for Hollywood
blockbusters has ordered its pilots to slow down after two of its
aircraft were damaged in almost identical incidents eight days apart.

Two
helicopters were damaged by low-hanging cargo hooks which were blown
upwards due to the pilots flying at maximum speeds.

The
incidents were revealed today in the latest official bulletin by the
UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).

The
first incident occurred in Cairngorms National Park,
northern Scotland,
on October 8.

The
AAIB bulletin said: "The pilot reported that the helicopter
encountered localised severe turbulence while flying at the maximum
allowed airspeed for the configuration, 80 knots (92mph).

"This
caused it to sink rapidly, about 60 to 80 feet. The pilot heard a
bang and immediately realised that the chain had struck the aircraft,
probably in the region of the tail boom."

An
almost identical incident occurred eight days later in Kettlewell,
North Yorkshire, involving the same model of aircraft.

The
AAIB said: "As the helicopter was descending towards the field
site at 75 to 80 knots, the pilot heard a loud bang and felt a high
frequency vibration.

"It
was subsequently found that the empty chain lifting sling had made
contact with both tail rotor blades, tail rotor driveshaft cover and
the port horizontal stabiliser."

Both
pilots, who were aged 60 and 66 at the time of the incidents, landed
the helicopters safely and were unharmed.

The
bulletin concluded: "The helicopter operator conducted an
internal investigation into the two accidents, which concluded that
the sling had entered the tail rotors due to high airspeed.

"A
safety bulletin was issued to all affected pilots and ground crew,
highlighting the changes and stressing the need to adhere to the 80
knot speed limit, whilst being prepared to reduce speed further in
unfavourable flight conditions."

Both
aircraft were operated by Inverness-based PDG Helicopters.

According
to the company's website, the model of aircraft involved in the
incidents was used for aerial filming on Batman blockbuster The Dark
Knight Rises, which was filmed in various locations around the UK
including Cairngorms National Park.

PDG
also worked on the opening scenes of Ridley Scott sci-fi reboot
Prometheus, which were filmed on the Isle of Skye.

PDG
chief executive Jerry Francis described the AAIB report into the
incidents as "comprehensive", and said he did not wish to
comment further.